This COLETTE top had to wait a long time for the perfect name. After putting out a call on Instagram, my friend Sarah suggested the name ‘Colette’, and it immediately felt just right. COLETTE sounds elegant and powerful, and that’s exactly how you feel when you wear this top. When I looked into the meaning of the name, I discovered that COLETTE means ‘victor’. How cool is that?
Another fun fact: in Flanders, the term ‘col’ is used to describe a turtleneck, a high, rolled-up collar on a garment. A nice nod to this design, don’t you think?

This COLETTE top is knitted top down. You start by knitting the collar, the ‘col’, hihi. Then you work increases to shape the yoke and shoulders. Once you’ve increased enough stitches, you divide the work into a front and back piece to form the armholes. Both pieces are knitted back and forth. Then you join the front and back together again to close the armholes and continue knitting the body in the round.

Sizes
XS (S, M, L) XL (2XL, 3XL, 4XL) 5XL

Bust circumference
The bust circumference of this finished top measures approx. 103 (110, 124,5, 131,5) 142 (156,5, 167, 174) 188,5 cm (40½ (43¼, 49, 51¾) 56 (61½, 65¾, 68½) 74¼ inches). The pattern is designed to be approx. 24 - 30 cm (9½ - 11¾ inches) larger in circumference than your bust circumference (positive ease).

Length
The length of the finished top is 48 (49, 50, 52,5) 54 (57, 58, 60) 63 cm (19 (19¼, 19¾, 20¾ (21¼, 22½, 23½) 24¾ inches).

Gauge
22.5 stitches x 38 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 inches) in broken rib stitch using 3.5 mm (US 4) needles, measured after washing and laying flat to dry.

Suggested needles
Circular needle 3.5 mm (US 4)
Circular needle 3.25 mm (US 3)

Yarn
sport weight yarn
902 (980, 1136, 1247) 1375 (1592, 1720, 1845) 2088 m
986 (1072, 1242, 1364) 1504 (1741, 1881, 2018) 2283 yds

Yarn amounts are estimates and can vary depending on your knitting tension and any modifications made to length of fit.

Suggested yarn
Lang Yarns Cashmere Premium (115m/126yds/25g): 200g (225g, 250g, 300g) 300g (350g, 375g, 400-425g) 450-475g  
Schoppel Wolle Hanfwerk (150m/164yds/50g): 300-350g (350g, 400g, 450g) 500g (550g, 600g, 650g) 700g
Lang Yarns Merino 150 (150m/164yds/50g): 300-350g (350g, 400g, 450g) 500g (550g, 600g, 650g) 700g

★★ - (motivated) beginner